Umbrella.



No. 675,148. Patented May 2a, 190:. m. A. Bmm.

UMBRELLA.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

MARIA APOLLONIA BUHM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,148, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed December 28, 1900. Serial No. 41,365. (Nomodelinterior head-space, which shall be capable of relatively closerrolling in closed condition, and which shall be generally superior inpoint of utility and general efficiency.

In carrying out my improvements I provide an umbrella in which thebrace-rods are arranged above the ribs and an umbrella-stick consistingof two parts or members, the upper of which projects above the ribs andcarries the same and the runner of the bracerods. The lower member ofthe umbrellastick embodies the umbrella-handle and is pivotallyconnected with the ribs by supplemental bracerods. A supplemental coverconceals the brace-rods from view. When the umbrella is in closedcondition, it may be rolled very closely, because practically no part ofthe umbrellastick projects among the folded ribs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of an umbrella constructedaccording to my invention and in open or operative condition.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is'aside View of the same in closed or inoperative condition. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view of the means of connection of the ribs andbrace-rods.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates my improved umbrella, whichembodies two stick members 2 and The ribs 4 are directly connected withthe upper and shorter stick member 3, and-two of the ribs are. connectedwith the lower stick member 2 by supplemental brace-rods 5. To sustainthe ribs 4 in spread or opened condition, I provide a set of brace-rods6, which are arranged above'the ribs 4, and the customary cover 7, whichis spread thereon.

Each of the brace-rods 6 in the preferred form of construction ispivotally connected at one end with one of the ribs 4, as at 8, and atthe other end, as at 9, with a runner 10, which operates longitudinallyof the stick member 3. Theribs 4 are pivotall y connected at their upperends, as at 11, with a support-ring 12,

.which is secured to the lower end of the stick member 3. 4

Suitable tensional means 13 are provided, which tensional means exert aconstant tendency to sustain the runner 10 in raised position, andconsequently maintain the ribs 4 and brace-rods 6 and cover 7 inextended condition. In the preferred form of construction the tensionalmeans 13 consist of a coiled spring 14, which is coiled about the stickmember 3 between the support-ring 12 and the runner 10.

15 designates locking means for retaining the runner in lowered positionagainst the tension of the coiledspring 14 when the umbrella is closed.The locking means 15 may consist, as illustrated, of a catch or thumblever 16, which is carried by the runner 10 and is arranged forengagement with a notch or' recess in the lower portion of the stickmember 3. The brace-rods 6 are covered by a supplemental cover 7, whichis connected with the runner 10 at its center and with the cover 7 atits edge portion, as at 17, in an annular line of connection whichpasses through the points 8 of pivotal connection of the-bracerods 6with the ribs 4. The supplemental cover 7, in combination with the maincover 7, effectively houses the brace-rods 6 and the tensional means 13,which are thus protected from the weather and are also concealed fromView.

The supplemental brace-rods 5, of which preferably but two are employed,are each pivotally connected at its upper end with one of the ribs 4, asat 8, preferably at the point 8 of pivotal connection of the respectiverib 4 with one of the brace-rods 6. The lower ends of the supplementalbrace-rods 5 are as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tensional means 13effectively sustain the runner 10 in raised position, and the brace-rods6 are maintained by the runner 10 in raised and extended position,whereby they operate as a truss to suspend the ribs 4 and cover 7 inextended operative position.

If desired, the locking means 15 may be engaged with the stick member 2when the runner is in elevated position, and thus supplement thesupporting action of the tensional means 13.

The pivotalconnection of the supplemental brace-rods 5 with the stickmember 2 at 18 and the pivotal connection of the same with the ribs 4 at8 are of such a character that lateral relative movement of theconnected parts is prevented and the umbrella may be firmly supported bythe stick member 2, which is formed into a handle 2 at its lower end. Itwill be noted that when the parts of the umbrella are in open positionan effective braced relation is maintained between the brace-rods 6 andthe supplemental brace-rods 5, and this braced relation results in afirm support and suspension of the ribs 4 and umbrella-cover 7 frombelow and above, respectively. This arrangement of parts operates toprevent the opened umbrella from being turned inside out, as oftenresults in heavy winds with umbrellas as commonly constructed.

It will be further noted that the head-space within the opened umbrellais free from the obstruction of the brace-rods, which are convenientlyarranged above the cover and the ribs, and that the umbrella-stick beingcomposed of two parts, one of which extends below the supplementalbrace-rods and the other of which extends above the ribs and cover, doesnot at any point pass through the head-space within the opened umbrella.The su 'iplemental brace-rods 5 are preferably but two in number and areconnected with two diametrically opposite ribs at, which arrangement isbest adapted for obtaining a perfect rigid connection of the ribs withthe stick member 2. The employment of but two of the supplementalbrace-rods 5 causes the minimum obstruction of the head-space within theopened umbrella, and, as in the preferred arrangement and connection ofparts, these supplemental brace-rods diverge widely from their point ofconnection at 18 with the stick member 2 and are connected with the ribs4, at points approximately midway of the ends of the latter. The centralpart of the head-space within the opened umbrella is entirelyunobstructed by the supplemental brace-rods.

In closing the umbrella the runner 10 is forced downwardly upon thestick member 3 against the tension of the spring 14, and the pivotalconnection of the several parts causes the brace-rods, ribs, andsupplemental bracerods to be folded inwardly into longitudinalalinement, as illustrated in Fig. 3, into closed position. The cover maythen be rolled in the customary manner, and the absence of any part ofthe umbrella-stick within the rolled cover permits of extremely closerolling.

\Vhen opened,the umbrella is not materially different inexteriorappearance from an umbrella of ordinary construction, as thesupplemental cover 7 simulates the central portion of the cover proper,'7, and follows closely the general contour of the latter.

The tensional means 13 assist the runner 10 in rising, and consequentlyassist in opening the umbrella, which feature is of advantage in heavywinds and various other conditions.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details ofconstruction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as itis manifest that variations and modifications may be made in thefeatures of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the deviceto various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention andimprovements. I therefore reserve the right to allsuch variation and'modification as properly falls within the scope of myinvention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut-- 1. In an improved umbrella, astick consisting of twoseparate parts, the ribs connected with the upper part of thesticlgsupplemental brace-rods connected with the lower part of the stickand with the ribs, and other bracerods connected with the ribs andextending above the same, said last-named brace-rods being also slidablyconnected with the upper part of the stick.

2. In an improved umbrella,a stick consisting of two separate partsembodying an upper part and a lower part respectively, the ribs directlyconnected with the upper part of the stick, main brace-rods connectedwith the ribs and slidably connected with the upper part of the stick,two supplemental bracerods pivotally connected with the ribs at oppositepoints of the same and pivotally connected with the lowerpart of thestick, means for maintaining the main brace-rods in raised positionwhereby the ribs are maintained in extended condition, a cover for saidribs, and a cover for said main brace-rods.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

MARIA APOLLONIA BOIIM.

Witnesses:

GEO. VAIL HUPPERTZ, J. R. LITTELL.

